Bats entangled

It was a bizarre sight… 

Two bats entangled to each other and screaming non-stop. 

Here's the story. 

It happened last night during my nightly walk at the park. Usually it would be quiet and peaceful. But for some weird reasons, last night was very noisy. There was this weird noise that sounded like a swarm of cicadas chirping and it came from a very dark corner of the walking trail. It felt a little eerie. 

The sound didn't stop and continued for a good 10-15min and I decided to investigate. As I walked near the sound, I saw a black moving patch on the ground. I shone my torchlight and saw 2 bats seemingly fighting, wings fully stretched opened in full glory. I left them alone and continued with my exercise. 

Still the sound continued for another 5-10min. I went back to take a closer look and realized one of the bat had one of its leg entangled and wrapped into the wing flap of the other. They couldn't release it and were struggling to get it unentangled. It was a painful sight. I could imagine them getting exhausted and die there if they couldn’t release themselves.

So I tried to help them. They were aggressive and screamed when I reach out to them initially. I swear I could see the fear in their eyes as I tried to help. My torchlight shining onto them didn’t help. It must have blinded them. They screamed and struggled, wings wide opened, helplessly. It must have been traumatic for the 2 little bats - getting stuck in such situation and being handled by a foreign and possibly hostile human being.

I continued trying and “shhhhh” them to calm them down as I did so. And all of a sudden, they quieten down and folded their wings. The look of 2 shriveled small bats stuck to one another and in full submission to me was very surreal. I suspected they knew I was trying to help them. I turned them a few times and tried to decipher how to unentangled them. But no matter how I tried, I just could not release the feet. The wing flap was folded so much that the feet cannot be seen! 

Not giving up, I continued and tried for a good 10-15min and they screamed out intermittently. It was a sorry sight. I felt bad and helpless and I was about to give up when all of a sudden, they just took off and flew away! Just like that! They flew off swiftly and quietly. I couldn’t even hear any flapping sound! Well, I must have unentangled the wing and foot! It felt good to be able to help! Well, not that I knew what I was doing… 

:-)